DULUTH, Ga. --For retailers moving into digital and mobile technologies both within their operations and with their customers, a common problem is having to “bolt together” disparate solutions. Technology provider NCR, Duluth, Ga., is offering Retail One, an omnichannel solution for retailers hoping to keep legacy systems while connecting with best-in-breed digital solutions.
The company unveil its new solution at its recent Synergy conference in Orlando, Fla. Nadine Routhier, vice president of marketing at NCR, told CSP Daily News that consumers today want to shop wherever they are, be it at home on the computer or on the phone while on the go. They may want to order something online and pick it up at a store or get a notice on a hot dog deal on their phone and go into the store to get it.
But for retailers, the problem is developing that all-around solution. “Omnichannel is not just about connectivity, it's mobility, self-service devices” Routhier said. “It’s about unifying all that into an integrated, frictionless solution, where consumers can shop, anytime any way they want.”
The trouble with existing technology is that retailers need to purchase—and keep purchasing—components from one vendor then another in order to create an end-to-end solution that is truly integrated, she said. Not only does this create vendor lock-in and a closed environment that is stifling innovation, but it simply isn’t feasible for most retailers who work with multiple vendors and are managing separate information technology (IT) systems (point of sale, marketing, loyalty program, inventory management, mobile, e-commerce and others) with limited connectivity between them. To date, providing a truly seamless customer experience across all channels continues to be a pipedream, she said.
NCR’s solution creates an integration layer that ties retailers’ existing and future IT infrastructure and applications together. The platform is built upon open interfaces that act as a connection point between the various software, hardware and payments systems in a retailer’s environment.
The solution includes an app store and marketplace that will feature apps customized for retailers from NCR and major industry partners.
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